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      Chris Thompson Announces Retirement as President and CEO of Brand USA

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      Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, announces the impending retirement of Chris Thompson as President and CEO, effective May 31, 2024.After a successful tenure of leading the organization, Thompson has decided to step down and pursue life beyond work.
      During his time as President and CEO, Thompson has played a pivotal role in promoting the United States as a premier travel destination. Under his leadership, Brand USA has achieved remarkable milestones, including increased international visitation, and enhanced global awareness of the diverse offerings across the country.
      Thompson’s strategic vision and unwavering commitment to excellence have been instrumental in driving Brand USA’s success. His dedication to fostering partnerships with industry stakeholders, government agencies, and international organizations has strengthened the organization’s position as a global leader in destination marketing.
      “It has been an incredible privilege to serve as President and CEO of Brand USA,” said Thompson. “I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am confident that the organization will continue to thrive under new leadership.”
      The Brand USA Board of Directors expressed their gratitude to Thompson for his exceptional leadership and significant contributions to the organization. “Under Chris’s strategic guidance, the Brand USA team has kept the USA the preferred travel destination in the world”, stated Todd Davidson, Chair of the Brand USA Board and CEO of Travel Oregon. “Chris’s integrity, tenacity, passion and belief in the power of the travel and tourism industry to bring prosperity to all Americans, fueled the advancement of the US travel and tourism industry and established an organizational foundation of innovation, resiliency and future-focused confidence. We all wish him the very best in his retirement.”ADVERTISEMENTThe search for a new President and CEO is commencing, and Brand USA is committed to finding a successor who will build upon Thompson’s legacy and continue to drive the organization forward. The Board of Directors will work closely with an executive search firm to identify a candidate with the necessary expertise, vision, and passion for promoting the United States as a global travel destination.

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      THE RITZ-CARLTON, AMMAN COMMEMORATES ITS FIRST YEAR IN JORDAN

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      GOLF IN SAINT LUCIA – SANDALS STYLE

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      Guests staying at any one of Sandals three resorts in St. Lucia can enjoy a Sandals golf course perfect for play at any skill-level. The all-remastered 18-hole, par 71 Sandals St. Lucia Golf & Country Club at Cap Estate boasts a Greg Norman-designed championship caliber course layout that features 7,000+ yards and dramatic elevation changes with undulating greens.
      Sandals St. Lucia Golf & Country Club at Cap EstateThis 18-hole, par 71 course features 6,744 yards of sprawling green slopes, dotted with attractive ponds and lush foliage. Featuring a practice range with putting and chipping greens, this magnificent golf course is ideal for any level of experience.18-hole, resort-style coursePlays to 6,744 yards, par 71Sprawling green slopes dotted with attractive ponds and lush foliage

      FacilitiesFull-service golf pro shopClub storage facilitiesPractice range with full sized driving range and putting greensDriving rangeChanging facilities
      ServicesADVERTISEMENT
      Complimentary green fees for guests staying at any of the Sandals Resorts in Saint LuciaComplimentary transfers for all nearby resorts to/from golf courseFrom Sandals Grande St. Lucian – 5-minute transferFrom Sandals Halcyon Beach – 25-minute transferFrom Sandals Regency La Toc – 35-minute transferGolf carts are mandatory, but not included. Rate is as follows:US $50 (up to 2 persons per cart)Optional golf rentals & amenities (per round):FootJoy® Shoe Rentals available for men and women (adult sizes only). Rate as follows: US $20Titleist® Golf club rentals available for men and women (left and right-handed). Rates as follows:US $75.00 for 18 holes(Includes a complimentary sleeve of Titleist® Pro V1® golf balls (3-count for course play)Complimentary group golf clinic hosted weekly.Private golf lessons led by a golf professional are available for an additional fee. Rates as follows:30 minutes US $100.0060 minutes US $180.0090 minutes US $260.00

      The magical island of Saint Lucia will host the World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony 2023 on 26 August 2023. The leading travel industry figureheads from across the region will attend the red-carpet reception at Sandals Grande St. Lucian.
      Graham Cooke, Founder, World Travel Awards, says: “I am honoured to unveil Saint Lucia as the host of our Caribbean & Americas Gala Ceremony 2023, in this our landmark 30th anniversary. Saint Lucia is helping to spearhead the recovery of travel and tourism in the Caribbean, and I am delighted this captivating island will form a crucial part of our anniversary tour.”He adds: “World Travel Awards has maintained its position as the industry leader for the past 30 years, consistently proving its value as the global benchmark for recognising excellence in travel and tourism. I look forward to joining the most senior travel industry figureheads from across the Caribbean and The Americas for what promises to be a fabulous event, acknowledging those organisations spearheading the growth of the region’s travel and tourism sector.”

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      Dusit International launches new group- wide sustainability program, ‘Tree of Life’

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      Swissport Strengthens Leadership in US and Canada with New CEO and Chief People Officer Appointments

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      Swissport appoints new leaders for the US and Canada. Nelson Camacho becomes CEO for the region. He will be driving Swissport’s development in one of its largest, most important markets. Stacey Brown starts as regional Chief People Officer.
      Nelson Camacho, formerly the company’s Chief Operating Officer for Swissport in the US and Canada, has assumed the role of CEO for the region at the start of July. He took over from Frank Mena, who has retired after a 45-year career in the aviation industry, with 32 years dedicated to Swissport and its predecessor in the US.
      Camacho will be driving the company’s development in one of Swissport’s largest and most important markets worldwide. Across the US and Canada, Swissport’s aviation services are relied upon by over 300 airlines on a daily basis at more than 80 airports. In addition to its core business of passenger services and ramp handling, the company also provides aviation fueling, lounge hospitality and executive aviation services in the US and Canada.
      “Our potential in the US and Canada is huge and we have been gearing up to grow our business – especially in the domestic arena where Swissport is not quite as well known yet,” says Warwick Brady, President & CEO of Swissport International AG. “We want to anchor our brand as the preferred partners for airlines – from network to no-frills carriers in the US and Canada. I am pleased Nelson has taken over the lead on this exciting journey.”
      “I was honored to accept the role of CEO for the US and Canada,” says Nelson Camacho. Working closely with Stacey, our new Chief People Officer, and the rest of our regional executive team, we will accelerate Swissport’s growth and success, driven by collaboration, innovation and relentless focus on customer satisfaction.”ADVERTISEMENTCamacho joined Swissport as COO for the US and Canada in March 2023. Prior to joining, he was COO at GAT Airline Ground Support for the company’s US operations, overseeing safety, culture, compliance, administrative, and operational functions. Prior to GAT, Nelson served as VP Airports, C.E. and Customer-Facing Technologies at Copa Airlines. He has also held management positions at CAE Inc., US Airways, and the United States Air Force. Nelson holds an Executive MBA from Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business in Dallas, Texas, and a Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
      STACEY BROWN NEW CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER US & CANADA
      Effective 31 July 2023, Stacey Brown was appointed Chief People Officer for the US and Canada, reporting to Nelson Camacho. Stacey is an experienced HR executive with a proven track record of employee development and retention. She began her career in labor and employment litigation before moving on to various in-house counsel and HR positions with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Albertson’s Companies, and Walgreens. Stacey has served as Chief HR Officer for DB Schenker in the Americas, a global logistics and supply chain provider. Most recently, she held the position of Chief HR Officer at First Hospitality.

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      Experience the Magic of Christmas at Gaylord Hotels

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      Experience the Magic of Christmas at Gaylord Hotels

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      Gaylord Hotels – part of Marriott Bonvoy’s extraordinary portfolio of 31 hotel brands – is delighted to announce the return of its iconic ICE! event for the 2023 holiday season. More than 2 million pounds of ice at each of the brand’s five resorts transform into colorful, larger-than-life, story-driven holiday showplaces featuring characters and scenes from beloved Christmas classics. It is all part of the brand’s So. Much. Christmas. extravaganza, featuring dozens of holiday activities, entertainment, unique dining experiences, and more. The Christmas events return this November to Gaylord Opryland in Tennessee, Gaylord Texan in Texas, Gaylord Palms in Florida, Gaylord Rockies in Colorado, and Gaylord National in Maryland. ICE! will anchor each resort’s over-the-top festive showcases of traditional ice sculptures and light and fountain shows, alongside returning marquee programming, including the original production of Cirque: Spirit of Christmas live show and a brand-new Christmas in Tennessee dinner show at Gaylord Opryland.
      To celebrate the start of the season, Gaylord Hotels is offering a special early bird offer, where guests and visitors can save up to 20% off Christmas packages and room nights and up to 30% off ICE! tickets.
      ICE! at Gaylord Hotels A holiday tradition at Gaylord Hotels for more than 20 years, the dazzling ICE! experiences begin to take shape in October, as expert artisans from Harbin, China (home to the renowned Harbin Ice Festival) hand carve characters, scenes, stories, and epic slides out of colorful, vibrant ice. Each resort will feature a theme different than last year, allowing visitors to experience a fresh new showcase. The unique sculptures will be created from more than 33,500 massive blocks of ice weighing more than 10 million pounds – or 5,000 tons – across the five resorts. The holiday-themed spectacle crafted with meticulous detail will be kept at a chilly nine degrees to ensure every feature remains frozen. The carving takes place over six weeks, using skills passed down from generation to generation and a mix of modern and hand-built, custom tools. Each theme’s vivid colors come to life with the help of an expert chemist who prepares a proprietary formula to ensure the ice sculptures maintain their bright and festive colors all season long.
      This year, visitors will be able to experience five quintessential holiday classics:
      ICE! featuring The Polar Express™ at Gaylord Opryland – Based on the beloved Warner Bros. film, families are invited to take a journey of imagination through this heartwarming story as a young child embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole while learning about friendship, bravery, and the true spirit of Christmas.ICE! featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas at Gaylord Palms – Guests will follow along with the lovable Charlie Brown as he rediscovers the meaning of Christmas.ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! at Gaylord Texan – Showcasing the 1957 Dr. Seuss classic, families are invited to experience iconic scenes such as the Grinch lurking through the chimneys of the Who-ville homes, the Grinch’s heart growing three sizes after realizing Christmas means a little bit more, and sitting down at the Whos’ feast where the Grinch carves the roast beast.ICE! featuring A Christmas Story™ at Gaylord Rockies – Fans of this humorous Warner Bros. perennial holiday classic will rejoice in experiencing their favorite characters and scenes in this magical ice showcase.ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ at Gaylord National – Guests will enjoy favorite scenes from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, brought to life in this colorful winter wonderland.Christmas Shows at Gaylord Hotels Returning for the season, Gaylord Hotels presents an original production of CIRQUE: Spirit of Christmas at Gaylord Rockies, Gaylord Palms, Gaylord Texan, and Gaylord National. This unique, Cirque-styled live show will feature dazzling acrobatics, feats of flexibility, and high-flying stunts. This Broadway-style spectacle centers around Noel, a child dismayed and distressed by the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Trying to recapture her lost love of the season, she is visited by spirits who bring back the true meaning of the season in energetic, dreamlike chapters.ADVERTISEMENTWintertime Activities for All Ages Alongside ICE!, families and guests can enjoy a lineup of winter festivities and holiday-themed events, with something for guests of all ages. Throughout the festive season, each property’s signature atrium will transform into a winter wonderland full of dazzling decorations, including millions of lights, elaborately themed Christmas trees, and miles of garland, as well as festive menus at restaurants, pop-up dining concepts, and retail opportunities to bring home gifts and stocking stuffers.
      Visitors can look forward to a number of amazing, Christmas-themed activities available within the resorts’ winter wonderlands this upcoming holiday season, including snow tubing, ice skating, caroling, gingerbread decorating and adventurous scavenger hunts. Highlights include Snow Flow Mountain, a magnificently sculpted tubing course for friends and families to race each other down; ice skating, various atrium light & fountain shows; gingerbread decorating experiences; winter wellness treatments at the brand’s Relâche Spa, and so much more. Additional programming as part of Gaylord Hotels’ So. Much. Christmas. offerings will be announced in the coming months.
      Tickets and Packages Tickets for ICE! and Christmas at Gaylord Hotels are on sale now and can be purchased at ChristmasatGaylordHotels.com. Advance online reservations are required for all ticketed events.
      To celebrate the start of the 2023 season, Gaylord Hotels is offering a special early bird offer, where guests and visitors can save up to 25% off Christmas packages and room nights and up to 30% off ICE! tickets.
      Christmas at Gaylord Hotels will be presented over the following dates:
      Gaylord Opryland: November 10, 2023 – January 1, 2024Gaylord Texan: November 10 – December 31, 2023Gaylord Palms: November 17, 2023 – January 3, 2024Gaylord Rockies: November 17, 2023 – January 1, 2024Gaylord National: November 19 – December 31, 2023

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      Heathrow Reports Strong Start to 2023 Summer Season, Welcoming 37 Million Passengers

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      Heathrow Reports Strong Start to 2023 Summer Season, Welcoming 37 Million Passengers

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      Great service and resilient demand drive a strong start to 2023 – Our teams welcomed 37 million passengers in the first half, which included some of the busiest days on record.We are giving great passenger service, with almost all passengers waiting less than five minutes at security as the summer peak gets underway. Overall passenger numbers still remain consistently below pre-pandemic levels, and the cost of living crisis is a material headwind for second-half demand. We have also now agreed on a fair two-year pay deal for all frontline colleagues.
      Connecting all of Britain to global growth – Passengers can choose from over 225 destinations this summer as airlines add more routes and frequencies to their Heathrow networks. Loganair has taken advantage of our lower domestic charges to increase routes, and 12 UK airports are now connected to the UK’s hub airport. Heathrow remains the best gateway in Europe for flights to the US, with 248 daily flights to 31 US destinations, and is currently better connected to India and China than European hub competitors. British Airways has launched a new route to Cincinnati, JetBlue added another service to New York, and LATAM has been allocated slots to begin a new non-stop connection to Lima, Peru.
      Investing in passenger service to maintain Britain’s hub – While we await the outcome of the CMA appeal, we are preparing to kick off the next phase of our investment in Heathrow to improve service. Plans for up to £3.7 billion of passenger improvements will include the replacement of the Terminal 2 baggage system and streamlining security in all terminals.
      Losses halved to £139 million – Adjusted losses before tax narrowed to £139 million in the first half, but we remain lossmaking due to the CAA setting too low a revenue allowance in the H7 regulatory settlement to generate enough cashflow, and this has been appealed. Our balance sheet is strong, with gearing well below pre-pandemic levels and £4bn of liquidity, sufficient to cover all of our commitments for at least the next 24 months. We are not forecasting any dividends in 2023.
      We continue to lead the industry in reducing the use of fossil fuels – We are the first airport in the world to issue a sustainability-linked bond which includes ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions from aircraft as well as on the ground. We look forward to Virgin Atlantic’s flight from Heathrow to JFK later this year, powered entirely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel. We urge policymakers to create a domestic sustainable aviation fuels industry which will create new green jobs, reduce costs for UK consumers and help achieve net zero targets.ADVERTISEMENTNew CEO appointed– John Holland-Kaye will step down as CEO in October after nine years, during which time he has transformed customer service at Heathrow, built a strong and diverse team, secured parliamentary support for expansion and established Heathrow as a leader in sustainability. Thomas Woldbye, the current boss of Copenhagen Airport, will take over from John, bringing fantastic experience from turning it into the hub of choice for passengers in Northern Europe.
      Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said:
      “The summer getaway has got off to a great start, thanks to planning and close collaboration with airlines and their ground handlers. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved as a team in the last nine years, transforming Heathrow into a world-class airport that Britain can be proud of. Heathrow is now a leader in sustainability, with a diverse culture that reflects our local community and can attract the best talent from around the world.”

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      Saudi Arabia creates a tourism investment company, Asfar

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      In preparation for a significant surge in tourism, Saudi Arabia has established a new investment firm. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has proudly introduced the Saudi Tourism Investment Company (Asfar), aimed at bolstering the growth of the country’s tourism sector.
      Asfar’s primary focus will be on investing in novel tourism projects and developing alluring destinations within various cities across the Kingdom. This includes the enhancement of hospitality, tourist attractions, retail, and food and beverage offerings, as well as investing in the local tourism value chain.
      Mishary Alibraheem, Head of Entertainment, Leisure and Sport sector in MENA Investments at PIF, said: “Asfar will activate the role that Saudi Arabia’s cities play in supporting the national economy. It will enable each city to make the most of its unique tourism offering, further diversifying and enriching the tourism and entertainment experience in Saudi Arabia.
      “PIF tourism projects and companies are working side by side, supporting and strengthening the tourism ecosystem.
      “The creation of the company is in line with PIF’s strategy to create opportunities in the tourism sector and reinforce strategic partnership opportunities with the private sector, creating jobs and diversifying sources of income for the local economy in line with Saudi Vision 2030.”ADVERTISEMENTAsfar’s missionThe company’s core mission is to foster an environment that facilitates private sector co-investment opportunities while also creating an appealing space for local suppliers, contractors, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to partake in tourism project and destination development.
      By promoting healthy competition, Asfar aims to enrich the diversity and quality of the hospitality and tourism experiences available in the country. Leveraging Saudi Arabia’s advantageous strategic location between Asia, Africa, and Europe, as well as the competitive edge of its cities, the company seeks to capitalize on the nation’s natural beauty and cultural richness, enhancing tourism experiences.
      Through these efforts, Asfar looks to attract both domestic and international tourists to explore a plethora of untapped destinations across the country. In doing so, the company envisions contributing significantly to the national goal of attracting 100 million visitors annually by the year 2030.
      Source; Hotelier Middle East

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      Bartlett Targeting 250,000 visitors from Latam over the next 5 years

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      Buoyed by the full recovery of Jamaica’s tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism is targeting 250,000 visitors from Latin America (Latam) over the next 5years.The move forms part of the Minister’s aggressive push to reengage this large source market.
      “The Latin America region has over 600 million people and represents one of the largest source markets for Jamaica that we must capitalize on. With travel fully returned and the potential of new airlift out of the region, we are building out strategies to attract these visitors,” said Minister Bartlett.Copa Airlines remains the strongest airline partner with an increased frequency of 4 flights weekly to Montego Bay and Kingston, with the aim of providing 5 flights weekly by Q1 in 2024.
      “Now is the time for Jamaica, a sought-after destination, to leverage this very lucrative market as part of our drive to welcome 5 million visitors by 2025. With 20 thousand rooms coming on stream in Jamaica, we will need to engage our airline partners for more airlift and seats, our tour operators, and create more investment to support this drive,” said Minister Bartlett.
      In 2019, Jamaica welcomed over 38 thousand visitors from Latam, and the island was poised to increase this number in 2020, but then COVID hit. Coming out of the pandemic, in 2022, Jamaica was able to welcome over 22 thousand visitors from the region.“The signs of interest for travel from Latam to Jamaica are strong, and we are ready to showcase our authentic culture and unique offerings,” said Director of Tourism, Donovan White.Minister Bartlett is in Latin America with a team of senior tourism representatives as part of a high-level strategic reengagement of the region.
      Jamaica was named the Caribbean’s Leading Destination 2022, for the 16th straight year at last years World Travel Awards.  Jamaica also scooped the award for Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2022, Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board 2022, for the 14th year in a row and Caribbean’s Leading Nature Destination 2022.ADVERTISEMENT

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      CHTA Announces the Return of CHIEF to Miami this year

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      The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has announced the return of the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), to be held November 29 to December 1, 2023, at the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon.
      CHTA President Nicola Madden-Greig said the Caribbean region’s premier engagement, networking, education, and best practice sharing event for the hospitality industry professionals is back, and this year delegates will explore the theme “A New Era of Caribbean Tourism: Balancing Tradition, Technology, and Community”.
      “We want to emphasize the region’s commitment to embracing technology while preserving its rich cultural heritage and fostering strong community ties,” said Madden-Greig, who reported that the conference will tackle issues and opportunities that are most important to the region, setting a course for wealth creation, business success and sustainable growth.
      CHIEF 2023 will welcome a diverse audience, including hotel, resort, villas and Caribbean attraction owners, management executives, hospitality product and service providers, government officials, students, and other individuals interested in the region’s hospitality industry.
      CHIEF was created to encourage hoteliers to invest in their teams’ development, offering multiple opportunities for advancing their understanding of trends and exposure to new products, services and methodologies implemented in the industry. Over two days, delegates will be able to attend general and breakout sessions, an innovative trade show, and other activities to complement the core program.ADVERTISEMENTFor suppliers and vendors, CHIEF 2023 offers a unique opportunity to display products and services and engage in one-on-one interactions with hospitality business representatives. “The event will also serve as a valuable platform for fostering business relationships and discovering innovative solutions to enhance the overall guest experience,” said Bill Clegg, Chairman of the program.
      Registration opens on August 8, and rates are priced affordably at:US $525 for the first attendeeUS $425 for additional attendees from the same businessUS $995 for exhibitors
      Visit www.chtachief.com or contact us at [email protected] for more details.

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